The ultimate study abroad resource – a blog about the study abroad experience written by a study abroad student to help other study abroad students

1 Backpack + 3 Days = Weekend Travel Packing List

The Ultimate Weekend Travel Packing List

Backpacks – totally superior to the rolling suitcase

Other than your inter-semester break (if you’re abroad for a year) or the occasional week-long vacation, most of your trips while abroad will be for 5 days or less. The common method is to leave Thursday night, skip class on Friday, travel for the long weekend, and then head back to your university on Sunday night. While I’ve written a number of posts in the past about prep and packing for studying abroad, I’ve yet to cover what you should bring on these long-weekend adventures. So, inspired by both the success of 2 Suitcases + 1 Year = Study Abroad Packing List, as well as my recent trip to Southern China, I decided to create The Ultimate Weekend Travel Packing List.

Sleep sack/sleeping bag (most hostels have sheets, however, some will charge you for them, and for those people that don’t like sleeping in unfamiliar sheets, I recommend a Cocoon Travel Sheet.)

Journal/diary

Plastic bottles for toiletries (the maximum is usually 100ml)

Water bottle/Nalgene bottle

*Notes:

1. Clothing – Clothing will be dependent on location, so adjust what I’ve written above for colder climates with things like pants and long-sleeve shirts, and don’t forget to pack things like a hat, gloves, and heavy socks.

2. Button-down “dress shirt” and khakis or dark jeans – You don’t need to pack a shirt and tie, but a button down and dark jeans can pass for appropriate clothing if you’re having dinner at a more formal restaurant.

3. Toiletry kit – I know it looks like I included a lot of items in the toiletries section, but if you keep everything organized in a toiletry kit or at least in some Ziploc bags, they actually take up very little space.

5. Bath towel – There’s definitely no need to pack a towel as they’re provided at hotels and you can usually rent one at a hostel for a few pounds or euro, but if you have room in your bag and want to bring your own, check out the Sea to Summit DryLite Towel that I’ve linked to above.

6. Enough prescription drugs for the length of your stay – you should also make sure you’re allowed to bring them into the country you’re traveling in and that you have documentation, either the prescription or a doctor’s note.

One final note – don’t forget to write down the directions to your hotel or hostel (preferably in the language of the country that you’re visiting) and bring them with you so you’re not stuck at the airport or doing circles in a cab!

And don’t forget to check out these other posts for more packing and traveling information: